President Rodrigo Duterte hopes that House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco will respect the term-sharing agreement that he himself brokered or mediated last year to ensure a smooth leadership transition in the House.
But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque also said that President Duterte also announced last night that he can do nothing if Velasco does not have enough support from his fellow congressmen to replace Speaker Cayetano.
According to Sec. Roque, President Duterte allegedly left it to the members of the House to decide on their leadership.
Under the gentleman’s agreement term-sharing, Cayetano will be the first speaker for 15 months since the opening of the 18th Congress in July last year and Velasco will take over for the remaining 21 months starting in October.
“He’s hoping na tutupad sa usapan ang partido pero kung wala pong numbers si Congressman Lord Allan eh wala po siyang magagawa,” ani Sec. Roque. “The President is hoping that the Speaker and Congressman Velasco will honor their agreement, but ultimately the decision will be the decision of the individual congressmen.”